By the Independent Political Correspondent
Wednesday, 20th May, 2026
A Moment of Political Endurance: Harry Kalaba’s Nomination and the Lessons for Zambia’s Opposition
The successful nomination of Harry Kalaba as a presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections marks more than just a procedural milestone. It is a testament to resilience, political reinvention, and strategic persistence in Zambia’s evolving political landscape. For a leader who has had to navigate hostility from former allies, skepticism from critics, and structural political shifts, this moment carries both symbolic and practical weight.
Kalaba’s political journey since his departure from the Patriotic Front (PF) in 2018 has not been without turbulence. His resignation, rooted in principle and disagreement with the direction of the party at the time, triggered a wave of resentment among segments of PF loyalists. Alongside Chishimba Kambwili, Kalaba became a convenient scapegoat for the PF’s eventual loss of power to the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Yet this narrative – often repeated within PF circles – has always been overly simplistic. It ignores the deeper structural and behavioral issues that contributed to the party’s decline. Chief among these was the growing perception of hooliganism, political violence, and a widening disconnect between the leadership and the everyday concerns of Zambians. These were not isolated incidents but patterns that eroded public trust over time.
Blaming Kalaba or Kambwili may have provided short-term emotional relief for some within the PF, but it did little to address the underlying problems. A more constructive approach would have been introspection and a candid assessment of where the party lost its way. Instead, the tendency to externalize blame has persisted, and today, the PF finds itself in a state of visible disarray, struggling even to field a presidential candidate.
This internal crisis reflects a broader failure to uphold the founding ethos of the party under Michael Chilufya Sata – MHSRIEP. Sata’s vision of “putting more money in people’s pockets” was anchored in pro-poor policies and grassroots connection. The PF’s inability to sustain that connection ultimately led to its electoral downfall. To now attribute that loss to individuals who chose to leave, rather than to systemic shortcomings, is to miss the lesson entirely.
Against this backdrop, Kalaba’s political re-emergence becomes even more significant. After losing control of the Democratic Party through the UPND’s machinations, many would have expected his influence to wane. Instead, he regrouped and founded the Citizens First (CF), demonstrating notable organizational acumen. Building a party from the ground up in Zambia’s competitive political environment is no small feat, yet CF has rapidly positioned itself among the top three political forces in the country.
This rise speaks to Kalaba’s ability to mobilize structures, articulate a coherent vision, and connect with a segment of the electorate that feels underserved by the dominant parties. It also underscores a broader truth: political relevance in Zambia is no longer the preserve of legacy parties alone.
As the country heads toward elections, Kalaba’s candidacy introduces a dynamic that could reshape opposition politics. It is clear that Kalaba has moved beyond the shadow of his past affiliations and carved out a distinct political identity and to those the still believe in the old Michaels way of politics that are rooted in the desire to meet the needs of the Zambian citizens and pulling them out of economic servitude, Harry Kalaba’s CF is definitely that new PF that they should support.
For the PF, the moment calls for reflection rather than recrimination. For the broader opposition, it is a reminder that unity, discipline, and responsiveness to citizens’ needs are indispensable. And for Kalaba, this nomination is both a validation of past struggles and a test of future leadership.
In Zambian politics, endurance often separates fleeting actors from lasting figures. On that measure, Harry Kalaba has firmly established himself as one to watch.
